5 Political Points I Think We Can All Agree On
Whether it’s from getting older (and hopefully wiser), becoming more aware of the political landscape around me, technological advances, or something else entirely, I think we can all agree that the political climate has become much more tense in the past few years.
Sure, people are always going to be passionate about politics – especially the loud extreme right and left – but there’s a different smell in the air these days. It’s aggressive, it’s disrespectful, and it’s concerning.
So, no matter what side you’re on, I think there are five things we can all agree on.
1. This shit is out of hand.
Sorry not sorry for the language, because this shit. is out. of hand.
Between the calls, the text messages, the TV and radio ads, the posters and campaigning in every nook and cranny of our lives…it’s simply too much. Then you have the aggressive politically motivated voters on both sides that are harping in your ears 24/7 in person and on social media? It’s just too much.
It’s hard to hear anything through the noise and, because of this, I’m honestly not surprised there are still so many Americans who get overwhelmed and still don’t vote.
2. There is an incredible lack of respect.
I’ve always been one to be willing to have an educated, civil conversation about politics. In fact, I especially enjoy having a conversation with someone who doesn’t agree with everything I do. (That’s how we learn and grow, people.)
But what I can’t handle? Those – again on both sides – who have an extreme lack of respect for an opposing viewpoint simply because it is not the same as their own. (It’s the “if you’re not with me, then you’re against me” mentality.)
If we can’t talk about the issues, and we can’t respect each other for long enough to actually listen to another point of view, then what the heck is America about anyway?
3. We’re not solving anything.
As a result of the lack of respect amongst politicians and voters alike, I feel an overwhelming sense that nothing is actually getting solved because we are so focused on arguing the intricacies.
The result? Nothing changes and everyone’s just that much more pissed off.
4. Social media is out of control.
Both politicians and voters are using social media as a political stage to say whatever, whenever.
Can we all just agree once and for all to only talk about things online that we’d actually have the guts to say out loud? Can we stop hiding behind our computers for long enough to be brave and talk to each other? (Case in point: I would say every word of this post to anyone, anywhere, any time.)
5. Fact checking is becoming a thing of the past.
Speaking of social media, how many times have you seen blatantly false images, articles, or videos being spread around? How many times have you, yourself, been naughty enough to share something (publicly or not) without doing a little digging or fact checking first?
There’s a reason that the media employs fact checkers, but we have got to start being better about being our own advocates, too. Check multiple resources (on left leaning and right leaning media sources), read bipartisan websites and newspapers, and for heaven’s sakes, research before you share next time.
As an example, I refuse to have a conversation on or comment about an issue or an event that I know nothing about. So, if I’m so inclined, I’ll educate myself about it using multiple (reliable) resources.
This is an open forum, so I welcome your thoughts on the political woes we all face. But, again, I will only tolerate educated, respectful comments below.
